Ceramic Brakes
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The is bleading edge stuff for road cars. For track use, the benefits are reduced unsrpung weight and essentially fade free braking. As others have said, there were many problems with the first generation of ceramics from Porsche, these are really best suited for track use (Porsche recommends having 2 sets of pads--one for track use and one for road), plus they are very expensive--you can replace your rotors several times for $10K. And the pads don't last as long as the rotors.
The one positive from my perspective, though...no brake dust!!!
The one positive from my perspective, though...no brake dust!!!
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Originally Posted by tomwid' date='Jul 13 2005, 09:32 AM
I guess you guys missed the part about ceramic brakes lasting for 180,000+ miles...? 
They do not rust and typically last about four times as long as conventional steel brakes. Audi claims they can last about 186,000 miles under standard braking conditions.
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I understand what you're saying, but...
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology. Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology. Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
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Originally Posted by tomwid' date='Jul 13 2005, 01:34 PM
I understand what you're saying, but...
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology.? Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology.? Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
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but an expensive step
Ceramics should be standard on m5! or some kind of ceramic composite...
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Originally Posted by tomwid' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:34 PM
I understand what you're saying, but...
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology.? Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
It's a step in the right direction for automotive technology.? Everything on our cars should be designed to last 200k+ miles (including the brakes).
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What are brakes???? 
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It is best said in the article: "If it's possible to reach the same performance numbers with a normal brake, it makes no sense to use ceramics."
For me - if the option was over $1000 I would walk - I have no need for ceramic brakes on my car.
For me - if the option was over $1000 I would walk - I have no need for ceramic brakes on my car.
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No brake dust? Some, and it ain't healthy. At least not for the F1 drivers that are pretty close to the ground 
Read this...
BBC on Mika Salo
Google News search
OK OK I must not have been fully alert when replying to this topic
Read this...
BBC on Mika Salo
Google News search
OK OK I must not have been fully alert when replying to this topic
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Originally Posted by tomwid' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:32 AM
I guess you guys missed the part about ceramic brakes lasting for 180,000+ miles...?
They do not rust and typically last about four times as long as conventional steel brakes. Audi claims they can last about 186,000 miles under standard braking conditions.
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Originally Posted by LuvE60' date='Jul 17 2005, 02:24 PM
[quote name='tomwid' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:32 AM']I guess you guys missed the part about ceramic brakes lasting for 180,000+ miles...?
They do not rust and typically last about four times as long as conventional steel brakes. Audi claims they can last about 186,000 miles under standard braking conditions.
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[/quote]One of my fraternity brothers (James Clay) is a driver/owner in the World Touring Car Series - he drives BMWs. He has a project E90 that he's developing in conjunction with the cars he's prepping for the race series for '06. One of the first things he did was install ceramics on it - the same brand they use in the racing series - his comments are very interesting. The main thing is that the brake dust is a small fraction of the dust compared to the horrible amount the stock pads produce. I'm going to talk with him this week and see what kind of feedback he has regarding any squeaking, etc...
http://www.bimmerworld.com/Projects/E90project_pads.htm
I see on the TireRack.com that these pads are $74 per axle for the E60... That seems very cheap to me compared to the numbers being tossed around in this discussion.
